Fetal development - 14 weeks pregnant

Share

Crown to rump, your baby is about 8cm long and weighs about 40g. Her body is now growing faster than her head. This week, her parchment-thin skin is starting to cover itself with ultra-fine, downy hair (lanugo) that usually disappears before birth. Though her eyebrows are beginning to grow and the hair on top of her head is sprouting, this hair may change in both texture and colour after birth.

Thanks to brain impulses, your baby's facial muscles are getting a workout as her tiny features form one expression after another. About now, your baby can grasp, squint, frown, and grimace. She may even be able to suck her thumb. Meanwhile, your baby's kidneys are producing urine, which she releases into the amniotic fluid around her. She'll keep this up until birth.

You should have had your first two ultrasound scans by the end of this week. A dating scan is offered between 11 weeks and 13 weeks plus six days. And a nuchal translucency scan, which checks whether your baby is likely have Down's syndrome, is offered between 11 weeks plus two days and 14 weeks plus one day. If you are over 35, have a look at our article on how age affects pregnancy.

Note: Every baby develops differently. This page is designed to give a general idea of how a fetus grows in the uterus.

Special Offers from Our Partners

We want to make your experience easy and help you quickly find information that matters to you. By using our site, we assume that you consent to our use of these cookies. To learn more about our cookies, including how to opt out, please review our privacy policy.

Food and fertility
A healthy, balanced diet is important when you're trying to conceive. Find out the best foods to eat when trying for a baby, and make sure you're getting all the vitamins and minerals you need.

Meet other mums!
In your Birth Club, you can meet other mums and mums-to-be whose due date, or baby's birth date, is the same as yours. It's the perfect place to share advice, support and friendship with others who know what you're going through, because they are too!